Southern sweeps Lady Falcons, 57-23

HEMLOCK, Ohio — The Lady Tornadoes sure are starting the second half of their season on the right foot.

The Southern girls basketball team — which went 7-1 in Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division play through its first eight league games — began its second set of eight Thursday night, defeating Miller by a 57-23 final, in Perry County.

The Lady Tornadoes (10-3, 8-1 TVC Hocking) stormed out of the gates, outscoring Miller (2-10, 2-7) 20-to-3 over the opening eight minutes. Southern’s defense stayed strong in the second quarter, allowing just two points, but the SHS offense only managed to score four points in the eight-minute span, making the Lady Tornado advantage 24-5 at the half.

The Purple and Gold got back in the swing of things after the break, scoring 18 points in the third canto, while allowing just seven. Ahead by 30 points with eight minutes to play, the Lady Tornadoes sank all eight of their free throw attempts in the fourth period, helping to seal the 57-23 victory.

SHS junior Faith Teaford, who sank 8-of-9 free throw attempts in the win, led the Purple and Gold with 18 points, followed by Ali Deem with 14 points and a team-high four assists. Southern senior Jansen Wolfe scored 10 points and pulled in a team-best nine rebounds, Haley Hill chipped in with eight points, while Jaiden Roberts and Sierra Cleland rounded out the Southern offense with four and three points respectively. Deem and Hill led the Lady Tornado defense with four steals each.

For the game, Southern shot 14-of-19 (73.7) from the free throw line and 20-of-47 (42.6 percent) from the field, including 1-of-3 (33.3 percent) from beyond the arc. As a team the Purple and Gold finished with 36 rebounds, 13 assists, 14 steals and 15 turnovers.

Sanae Dutiel led the Lady Falcons with 14 points, followed by Olivia Houk with four, Josie Perani with three and Chloe Rine with two. Miller made 7-of-10 free throws in the game, equaling 70 percent.

The Purple and Gold also defeated MHS on November 30, in Racine by a 57-26 count. The Lady Tornadoes — who have won five of their last six contests — return to action on Monday when they host Eastern. Southern defeated the Lady Eagles by a 60-45 tally on December 3, in Tuppers Plains.